Love Get Involved ! CFJ Bible Fellowship Wednesday, 7 PM Venue : Will be broadcasted weekly Contact Person : Kelvin Sutandar (+62 812-8183-4550) CFJ Choir Practice Tuesday, 7 PM Venue : Ambiente Jln. Senopati no. 70 Contact Person : Fransiska Darmawan (+62 812-8183-4550) CFJ Kids Weekly Sunday School, 11 AM Venue : Gereja Katolik St.Perawan Contact Person : Krista Oen (+62 813-8108-9798) Friska Ruslim (+62 812-6743-218) Maria Ratu (Blok Q Church) CFJ Mass Servers Lectors & Altar servers Contact Person : Felicia Husada (+62 821-6101-9933) CFJ Newsletter Team Contact Person : Anastasia Liando (+62 821-8800-0821) CFJ Teens Contact Person : Katya Kamdani (+62 815-8348-233) CFJ Ushers & Audio Visual Contact Person : Mardhika Riady (+62 818-717-325) E [email protected]W www.cfjakarta.org facebook.com/cfjakarta @catholicfellowshipjakarta February | 2020 In the Bible, John 11:35 is the shortest verse you'd find, and it is written that, “Jesus wept." When I read this verse for the first time, I felt a strong conviction to go against my flesh and repent from my sins because I could not bear the thought of how much pain I had inflicted upon God. However, as time passed by, I slowly began to unravel and understand another meaning of this verse from a completely different perspective. Was Jesus crying only out of fear, or was he also facing the common human problem we've known as a ‘broken heart’? Surely Jesus, who is God, would never feel such a thing—or so we thought! Jesus was not only fully God but also fully human. From time to time, we are reminded of His divinity, but, personally, it is His humanity that really moved my heart and changed me. The fact that Jesus’ body was battered, broken, and crucified had shown me that he was also 100% human. Why would Jesus be heartbroken when he was praying in the garden of Gethsemane? I am not stating that Jesus felt rejected by us, and hence why was extremely sad and cried about it. This brokenness is different. At Gethsemane, He knew that the time had come for Him to sacrifice Himself as the unblemished lamb for our sins. Aside from fear, Jesus showed a supreme act of love during His weeping, which was vulnerability. At this moment, Jesus took a risk to love us unconditionally, and He had to face His fear, wound, rejection, and scorn in order to gift us with new life. When we opened up our hearts to face all of these things in life, automatically, we feel that our hearts have been somewhat cut open to reveal our innermost pain and traumas. This is where we need to realize that only through the brokenness of vulnerability do we truly become whole in God. I guess this is the type of heartbroken I am trying to explain. Most of the time, it feels like the world has no space for the weak—either you become the prey or the predator. This fear of being weak has captured and enslaved many hearts, causing them to become closed off and distant from true, loving relationships. At the end of the day, if our intention is rooted in love and is for the good of another, we have to cast aside our fears, take risks, and do what Christ did for us. Vulnerability is not a simple act since it involves discovering and sharing our very own "Challenger Deep". Just like the deepest point in the world's seas, this part of our hearts is the deepest trench where thoughts and feelings that either we never realized we had, or we have expertly buried away, reside. These are the things that would hurt the ones we love, bring us into tears, and, sometimes, not even be responded well to by others, if at all. Vulnerable
Transcript
Love
Get Involved !CFJ Bible FellowshipWednesday, 7 PMVenue : Will be broadcasted weeklyContact Person :Kelvin Sutandar (+62 812-8183-4550)
In the Bible, John 11:35 is the shortest verse you'd find, and it is written that, “Jesus wept." When I read this verse for the first time, I felt a strong conviction to go against my flesh and repent from my sins because I could not bear the thought of how much pain I had inflicted upon God. However, as time passed by, I slowly began to unravel and understand another meaning of this verse from a completely different perspective.
Was Jesus crying only out of fear, or was he also facing the common human problem we've known as a ‘broken heart’? Surely Jesus, who is God, would never feel such a thing—or so we thought! Jesus was not only fully God but also fully human. From time to time, we are reminded of His divinity, but, personally, it is His humanity that really moved my heart and changed me. The fact that Jesus’ body was battered, broken, and crucified had shown me that he was also 100% human.
Why would Jesus be heartbroken when he was praying in the garden of Gethsemane? I am not stating that Jesus felt rejected by us, and hence why was extremely sad and cried about it. This brokenness is different. At Gethsemane, He knew that the time had come for Him to sacrifice Himself as the unblemished lamb for our sins. Aside from fear, Jesus showed a supreme act of love during His weeping, which was vulnerability.
At this moment, Jesus took a risk to love us unconditionally, and He had to face His fear, wound, rejection, and scorn in order to gift us with new life. When we opened up our hearts to face all of these things in life, automatically, we feel that our hearts have been somewhat cut open to reveal our innermost pain and traumas. This is where we need to realize that only through the brokenness of vulnerability do we truly become whole in God. I guess this is the type of heartbroken I am trying to explain.
Most of the time, it feels like the world has no space for the weak—either you become the prey or the predator. This fear of being weak has captured and enslaved many hearts, causing them to become closed off and distant from true, loving relationships. At the end of the day, if our intention is rooted in love and is for the good of another, we have to cast aside our fears, take risks, and do what Christ did for us.
Vulnerability is not a simple act since it involves discovering and sharing our very own "Challenger Deep". Just like the deepest point in the world's seas, this part of our hearts is the deepest trench where thoughts and feelings that either we never realized we had, or we have expertly buried away, reside. These are the things that would hurt the ones we love, bring us into tears, and, sometimes, not even be responded well to by others, if at all.
of The Catholic Church
Vulnerable
CFJ Youth EucharisticMinisterInaguration
10 years ago on October 2010, I was inaugurated as a Eucharistic Minister in the US. As a 17-year-old girl, I took this step purely because of the heart to serve, but at that time I did not fully grasp what being an EM truly entails. Through time I realized that being an EM is not just about serving. Having the privilege of carrying the Body of Christ means that we have to be worthy of carrying the Body of Christ. Being an EM entails a lifelong commitment to a live a life that reflects God’s love and virtues -- an exemplary life that’s pleasing to God. If I did not fully comprehend them 10 years ago, I do now. That’s why joining CFJ EM training last year to serve as an EM in Jakarta was a huge step for me. I know that I am not perfect, and I am just a human being who is still learning day by day about God, but I am committed to learn to live for Him. And I am not alone. 9 youth CFJ EMs were inaugurated on December 15, 2019, taking the same big step together. I still remember how it felt when we say our vows together, when our full names were called one by one while we received our EM attire, and how nervous we were when wore our attire for mass then. That day marks a start of a lifelong commitment for us to live a life that’s worthy of the promises of Christ, a continuous process that I believe will never end. Therefore I ask for everyone to pray for us youth Eucharistic Ministers and all EMs so that God may bless and guide us in our journey to serve, and so that we may become a blessing for others.CFJ Member
Ratnaganadi Paramita
However, for once, let's just put yourselves aside and ask this million-dollar question: “What do you want from me, Lord?”. Maybe you have wondered why you felt a certain way, or what you are supposed to do with all of these "feelings". The only answer lies in His great commandment, which is to continue loving with your strengths and flaws.
Jeannie E. said that, "Love is the only genuine gift that, when it is given away, can only be offered through sacrifice. That often entails sacrificing our own comfort or desire for reciprocal affection. When we touch someone’s heart in such a way that they are changed, and deeply transformed, we give them the ultimate gift of a vulnerable love.”
Hence why, in this month as we are approaching Valentine’s Day, perhaps we have to start adjusting our mindsets on what kind of love have we been giving. Have we been honest and open enough with our loved ones, or have we succumbed to this world’s dictatorship of love that preyed on others? Have we given ourselves to love one another to the point of feeling heartbroken? More importantly, do we truly believe and live in His commandment to pour out love for others without counting the cost? Only then will people see God’s love becoming complete and efficacious in the world—through your whole self.
Volunteering for CFJ's Children Ministry is my passion, and a friend of mine had attested that it is indeed my calling. It gives me such great pleasure to volunteer for the CFJ Kids Sunday School these past few years. Last Christmas, I had the opportunity to visit Sekolah Kasih Bunda to celebrate Christmas with the special-need students there, those who have certain developmental needs in communicating and doing everyday activities. I had a great time joining in their fun, such as coloring, folding origami papers, singing, dancing, and eating together, and felt the innocence, joy and laughter that filled their spirits. God says that a child is a blessing and a gift; to love children as God has loved us unconditionally is how I feel closer to His presence.
CFJ KidsLia Prawiryowiryono
Initially, I joined this event to fill my year end holiday, but it turned out to be an unexpected experience for me. During the event, I couldn't hold my emotions when they sang a song with lyrics to remind us to always stay happy and to smile. I really felt that God loves everyone despite of their conditions. I also finally understood that God shows His powerful messages not through the grandest things in life. He sent a message to me (and maybe to all of the participants) that happiness, joy, love and faith comes from the smallest and simplest things in life.
